26: Influential Secrets pt.2: Shaken, Not Stirred

Grant Thomas
Nov 8, 2023
2 min read

Updated: May 9

There is more than one way to win the war. This week Grant dishes to Maia the many fun and scandalous ways the British government tried to convince America to support them during WW2. In the process, they helped elevate some of the 20th century's most prodigious writers. Grab a cocktail, we have some wining and dining to get to.

William Stephenson, Ian Fleming, Roald Dahl

Before James Bond, real British spies were infiltrating American high society, shifting public opinion, and even seducing elites to sway the tide of war. British intelligence launched a secret propaganda campaign in the U.S., planting pro-war sentiment in newspapers and leveraging high-profile influencers to change minds. Even beloved author Roald Dahl played a role in this covert operation, using his charm to get close to key decision-makers. And if that wasn’t wild enough, Britain also trained elite assassins—including some with a shocking twist. This episode dives deep into the untold stories of espionage, manipulation, and real-life tactics that inspired one of the most famous fictional spies in history.

Chapters/Key Takeaways

00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:30:32 Shaken, Not Stirred
00:34:40 World War II Spy Operations: Seduction tactics by the British government used to gain American support and established spy networks to counter Nazi influence
00:42:35 Ian Fleming's Wartime Contributions: How he created innovative spy and military strategies inspired by James Bond
00:55:54 Roald Dahl’s Wild Secret Life: From WWII spy, socialite, and alleged "ladies’ man” to becoming a writer of a famous children’s book
01:17:51 Special Operations Executive Tactics: Unique experts for clandestine operations and unconventional strategies like training gorillas for silent assassinations
01:21:03 Reflections on Historical Figures: Discussion of complex lives of wartime spies and authors and speculation about modern celebrities' potential future legacies

Quotes

"Knowing is so much better than not knowing." – Grant Thomas
“What America is really missing is really interesting people who do just like, several lifetimes worth of work." – Grant Thomas
"Checking your bank account is a lot like getting tested for an STI. You’re afraid about what it’s gonna tell you, but you know it’s so important." – Grant Thomas

Connect with Us

Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!